Energy efficient air conditioners on easy loan

Posted April 21st, 2017, 12:54 PM IST

Hyderabad: After the successful implementation of LED bulbs scheme across the country, the Union Ministry for New and Renewable Energy plans to introduce another scheme whereby it will distribute energy efficient fans and air conditioners. As per the proposal, energy efficient fans and air conditioners will be offered on EMIs at prices much lower than the market rates.

Union minister of state for new and renewable energy Piyush Goyal said recently, “We will soon come out with highly energy-efficient air conditioners on payment plans, so that people can pay for them while saving money.” Light bulbs and fans consumed the most power in middleclass households, Mr Goyal said, ad-ding, “Fans are the next thing which we will be in-troducing very soon. They will be cheaper than those available in market and will be about 35 per cent more energy efficient.”

He said the fans would cost around Rs 1,000 each, as against the conventional fans priced around Rs 1,500 in market. The Central government started last year the Domestic Efficient Lighting Programme, distributing over seven crore LED bulbs (2 bulbs to each household through power distribution companies). Energy officials said through bulk tendering, the government has been able to reduce the procurement of fans and air conditioners. They said that the price of LED bulbs has dipped to Rs 64.41 per unit in January 2017 from the market price of Rs 310 per unit in February 2014.